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Cancer

What We Can Learn From Marcia Cross About HPV Vaccination

Recently, Desperate Housewives star Marcia Cross made headlines by discussing her diagnosis of anal cancer and her husband’s diagnosis of throat cancer, revealing that both had been related to the human papillomavirus, or HPV. The move was brave, as the actress broke free from the stigma related to anal cancer and sexually transmitted diseases. More … Read More

Cancer

I Face a Known Risk From Cancer and an Undetermined Risk From the Scan Used to Detect it. Which is Worse?

We all have certain numbers we’d rather not think about: weight, age and, for me, in addition to breast cancer risk, how many MRIs might be too many. What’s worse — a known risk for breast cancer (mine is 42 percent) or an undetermined risk for the diagnostic tool used to detect it? The tool … Read More

Breast Program

MRI Safety in Breast Cancer Screening

The numbers are scary: The average woman has a 12 percent risk of developing breast cancer at some point in her life. For women with certain genetic mutations or risk factors, lifetime risk can climb to 85 percent. Even more terrifying than the numbers, however, are the rumors; rumors that the contrast dye used in … Read More

Cancer

5 Things You May Not Know About Cancer Risk

There is still a lot we don’t know about cancer. A diagnosis or even the thought of a future diagnosis can be scary. And what about your cancer risk? Many patients ask me “If a close family member has cancer, does that mean I will too?” Through hereditary cancer assessments, we are now able to … Read More

Cancer

Alex Trebek Reminds us to go Beyond Fear of Pancreatic Cancer

The news that beloved game show host Alex Trebek has advanced stage pancreatic cancer hit his millions of fans hard this week. His illness has elicited heartbreak and support. As a clinician who treats pancreatic cancer, I anticipated the reaction that would follow next. Fear. While it is a rare form of cancer, pancreatic cancer … Read More

Cancer

8 Little Ways You Can Actually Help Someone Dealing With Cancer

A cancer diagnosis can be devastating, regardless of the outlook. The news can also be hard on friends and family, as they struggle to figure out what they can do to help a loved one after the diagnosis. Beth Pauvlinch, who wrote about caring for her mother who lived with cancer in her book Two … Read More

Cancer

We Have a Shot at Preventing Cervical Cancer

Many people think eradicating cancer is unattainable. But for cervical cancer, we are well on our way to doing just that. Cervical cancer was once the leading cause of death in women in the U.S. But we are on the cusp of vanquishing this disease thanks to regular pap screening and a vaccine that protects … Read More

Cancer

What It's Like To: Get Rid of Cancer Before You Have It

When Somaya Ishaq of Irvine was told she had a 95 percent chance of getting ovarian cancer, she decided to be proactive. This is her story: We had two girls in two years. My husband and I planned on four kids. But I had complications after the birth of No. 2 in 2015. A year … Read More

Cancer

At Home Genetic Testing Can Confuse Heritage with Heredity

For $199 and a tube of saliva, I found out that I have straight hair and green eyes. Mirrors have been telling me this my whole life for free. But as a genetics counselor, I wanted to learn more about the recreational home genetics tests that have been captivating people. What I was left with … Read More

Breast Program

Connect at Hoag for Breast Cancer Awareness Event

Whoever said you can’t get anything worthwhile for free didn’t know about the upcoming Hoag event, “Demystifying the Breast Cancer Experience” at Hoag Hospital, which also happens to fall on the first week of October, otherwise known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual international health campaign organized to raise … Read More